Olympic hero of the day

[andygates]

The 10km open-water swim is a new event for the Olympics and I think it's a great one - a gruelling endurance race with pack tactics, weather, drafting and a little ankle-grabbing. 

Brits Keri-Anne Payne and Cassie Patten took silver and bronze after being out-sprinted at the end by Russian Larisa Ilchenko (sneaky!) but for me the Man Of The Match, so to speak, was South African Natalie du Toit.  That's her, number 23, and yes, that's her peg-leg.  Lost it in an accident and just carried on competing at international level.  Natalie finished about a minute behind the leaders at just over two hours. 

That's gumption.  Gumption and lats, clearly ;)

Comments

[despaer.livejournal.com]

She made the final of the Commonwealth 800m a few years ago. As in the able bodied final. And after her accident. Bloody impressive it was as she finished 8th of the finalists (and was by no means disgraced), got out, and then got straight back in for one of her para events which, needless to say, she cleaned up in. Much respect.

[ravenbait.livejournal.com]

She was absolutely brilliant.

10k in 2 hours! OMG!

[andygates.livejournal.com]

They all were! I'm looking at posting 45 minutes for just 1900m, ffs!

They're so damn fast (I refer to your previous post about "how the hell do elite swimmers do it?")

I swear my legs are just drag anchors. Maybe a little drastic surgery will boost my time...

...sux on the bike though.

[estaratshirai.livejournal.com]

Well done. *applause*